Chapter 974: The Prisoner Doesn

As expected, the opening!

Unexpected, the ending!

Xie Changling’s determination was unshakable, his assault ferocious; the Zhang family could not withstand it. Even though they launched a public opinion counterattack, accusing the Xie family of betraying old ties, turning heartless, and cutting the bridge after crossing the river, they could not alter the outcome—only slink away from the capital, surrendering the interests they had cultivated for years.

Should the Zhang family ever hope to return to the capital and serve as officials, influence court affairs, it would be ten or a hundred times harder than before!

Families and officials who gained benefits praised Xie Changling for his boldness and decisiveness—truly worthy of a Grand Secretary. Compared to the elderly, he had far more drive.

Even before Chu Wang was fully defeated, Xie Changling had already used the strike against the Zhang family to win over a group of hearts.

His timing and ruthless methods drew wide attention.

Previously, some had resented his youth in assuming the post of Grand Secretary, whispering behind his back. Now, such voices vanished entirely—even those still dissatisfied had fallen silent.

Afraid of being marked for vengeance, becoming the next Zhang family.

As a suspect in the Zhang Yulang case, Chen Guanlou was naturally let off without consequence.

“I meant to save his life, keep him from dying in the Heavenly Prison—but who knew my words would come true? Who could have guessed he’d kill himself?”

Chen Guanlou sighed repeatedly, chatting with Physician Mu.

“At least the Master made money from the Zhang family, and the man died outside—no connection to the Heavenly Prison. Truly a cause for celebration!”

Hearing this, Chen Guanlou couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re right—from the Heavenly Prison’s standpoint, this is indeed good. If you’d dosed him harder back then, perhaps the outcome would’ve been different.”

“If you’d dosed him harder, he’d have died outright. Either way, he’s dead. Dying in a brothel is better than dying in the Heavenly Prison. With the Zhang family’s arrogance, if Zhang Yulang had died here, the entire prison would’ve had to pay with dozens or even hundreds of lives to appease them.”

Physician Mu was furious, enraged by the Zhang family’s viciousness.

Brothel workers may be lowly, but twenty or thirty people dying in one night from a fire was still horrifying. Such unrestrained killing—if one day you accidentally crossed the Zhang family, wouldn’t your entire family’s lives hang by a thread?

Thank heaven the Zhang family was driven out of the capital!

Praise heaven and earth!

With good weather, Chen Guanlou decided to inspect the prison cells, moving from A to B to C.

The jailer of Cell Block B, Miao Yuli, kept a low profile. Unless you sought him out, he never approached. Chen Guanlou strolled through the block, exchanged a few casual words with Miao Yuli, and left.

The Ministry of Justice didn’t want him meddling in Cell Block B; he had no intention of forcing himself in and creating trouble.

He had the golden goose of Cell Block A—that was enough.

When he reached Cell Block C, Chen Guanlou frowned repeatedly.

“Master, is something amiss?” Xu Fugui hovered nervously nearby; in his eyes, Cell Block C was no different from before—what could possibly be wrong?

Chen Guanlou pointed to a prisoner in one cell. “Tell me, this man is the notorious river pirate?”

“Yes! Delivered by the Six Gates Bureau—the case file clearly records him as a river pirate, active for over a decade, committing countless major crimes, killing countless people. He’s already been sentenced to immediate execution and will be publicly beheaded in a few days.”

Chen Guanlou chuckled. “A notorious river pirate—surely he has some martial skill. Send someone to fetch the case file.”

Moments later, the file arrived.

Chen Guanlou flipped through it in front of Xu Fugui. “Look closely—the file clearly states this man is a third-rank martial cultivator. Even if his martial meridians are sealed, he should still look like a martial artist. Now look at the prisoner inside this cell—tell me, where does he look like a river pirate?”

He was plainly a timid, cowardly, shabby old peasant, trembling at the sight of anyone—a classic villager who’d never left his mountain valley, poor and downtrodden.

As Heavenly Prison’s warden, he’d seen countless criminals over the years, his eyes sharpened like searchlights. One glance was enough to judge a man’s true nature.

So when Xu Fugui claimed this man was a river pirate, Chen Guanlou knew instantly—he was wrong.

The man was wrong.

Xu Fugui, after hearing the analysis, was equally stunned.

He stared at the file, then at the prisoner. “This… this… Master, could you have misjudged? No law says a river pirate must look like a monster!”

Chen Guanlou sneered. “What if I told you this man has no martial meridians at all, knows not a single technique—what then?”

“Huh?”

Xu Fugui looked bewildered.

Finally, he whispered, “Master, is this true?”

“Do you doubt the sight of a ninth-rank martial cultivator? If I can’t tell this, I might as well buy a block of tofu and bash my head in.” Chen Guanlou smiled coldly.

“He was delivered by the Six Gates Bureau. If there’s a problem, it’s their fault.” Xu Fugui swiftly shifted blame. “He was like this when delivered. If you don’t believe me, summon all the jailers and question them. This has nothing to do with anyone in Cell Block C. Please, Master, investigate fairly!”

“I never said it was your fault. Why the rush?”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Chen Guanlou knocked on the cell door, jolting the dull, numb old peasant awake.

“What’s your name? What crime got you locked up?”

“I’m Zhang… Ma Liu. I was arrested for robbery and murder.”

“Stretch out your hand. Honestly—have you ever killed someone?”

“I probably did. The court sentenced me—can’t be wrong.”

Chen Guanlou burst out laughing.

He turned to Xu Fugui. “Look at him—confused, muddled, doesn’t even know who he’s impersonating. Such an obvious flaw, and you didn’t notice it in all these days? The jailers didn’t notice either. Old Xu, tell me—how are you doing your job?”

Xu Fugui felt wronged. “Master, this isn’t my fault—it’s the Six Gates Bureau’s doing. They must’ve taken bribes and picked someone random to take the blame. Utterly outrageous!”

He was furious, ready to storm off and confront the Six Gates Bureau at once.

Chen Guanlou sneered. “Old Xu, you still don’t grasp the severity of this! When the prisoner is taken to the execution ground, and the executioner verifies his identity and finds it doesn’t match the file—who do you think they’ll blame? The Heavenly Prison or the Six Gates Bureau?”

You say it’s the Six Gates Bureau’s fault, that they swapped the man—but where’s your proof? Where are the witnesses, the evidence?

Don’t forget—you signed and sealed the transfer documents, verifying the prisoner’s identity before he was imprisoned. Every procedure was followed. Now the prisoner doesn’t match the file—who do you think the Ministry of Justice will believe? When the Six Gates Bureau turns around and blames you, what will you do?”

Hearing this, Xu Fugui finally realized the gravity of the situation.

“Master, we are innocent! Please investigate fairly! Please stand by us!”

The other jailers knelt and banged their heads on the ground, begging Chen Guanlou to intervene!

A prisoner mismatch—this matter could be trivial or fatal. One misstep, and it could cost lives!